Bed beam guide for needle punching machine

ABSTRACT

Means for vertically guiding a removable bed beam in a needle punching machine, the guiding means including a first guide means for preventing horizontal movement of one end of said bed beam in a direction to the longitudinal axis of the bed beam and a second guide means convertible to two positions, an active position for preventing horizontal movement of the opposite end of said bed beam in any direction and an inactive position for allowing the bed beam to be moved horizontally along its longitudinal axis.

United States Patent [191 Brochetti BED BEAM GUIDE FOR NEEDLE PUNCHING MACHINE [75] Inventor: Raymond E. Brochetti, Westfield,

Mass.

[73] Assignee: James Hunter Machine Company,

Inc., North Adams, Mass.

[22] Filed: Mar. 9, 1973 [21 1 App]. No.: 339,799

[52] U.S. C1 28/4 R [51] Int. Cl D04h 18/00 [58] Field of Search 28/4 R, 72.2 R

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,117,359 H1964 OByrne 28/4 R June 4, 1974 3,540,096 11/1970 Porta 28/4 R 3,561,081 2/1971 Fehrer 28/4 R Primary Examiner-Louis K. Rimrodt Attorney, Agent, or FirmChapin, Neal and Dempsey [57] ABSTRACT Means for vertically guiding a removable bed beam in a needle punching machine, the guiding means including a first guide means for preventing horizontal movement of one end of said bed beam in a direction to the longitudinal axis of the bed beam and a second guide means convertible to two positions, an active position for preventing horizontal movement of the opposite end of said bed beam in any direction and an inactive position for allowing the bed beam I to be moved horizontally along its longitudinal axis.

10 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJUN 41924 3.813.741

- sum war 5 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to needle punching machines for needling endless textile webs such as felts for the paper-making industry and particularly to machines in which the bed beam is removable from the machine frame to facilitate removal of a finished web and the insertion of a new web to be needled.

Needle punching machines comprise a needle beam reciprocally mounted on a frame and having a plurality of depending needles, and a bed beam for supporting an endless web and having perforations for receiving the needles. When the web is positioned in the machine, it extends between the needles and bed beam and under the bed beam so that it completely encircles the bed beam.

Removal of the finished web is made easier by removing the bed beam through an opening provided in one end of the machine frame. Apparatus and method for doing this is disclosed in the commonly assigned application by Edgar C. Rust, Jr. Needle Punching Machine for Endless Web and Method of Removing Web and filed Mar. 25, 1971 under Serial No. 127,976, now US. Pat. No. 3,727,277, granted Apr. 17, 1973. In this application, the bed beam is lowered from an upper needling position to a lower position on bearing means and then removed from the frame through the opening in one end of the frame. After the finished web is removed and a new web inserted, the bed beam is moved back into the lower position within the framework. The bed beam is then raised to the upper needling position to begin another needling operation. During needling, it is important that the needles of the needle beam are alligned with corresponding holes in the bed beam. By removing the bed beam from the frame, it is likely that the holes in the bed beam will not be properly alligned with the needles when the bed beam is repositioned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide means for positioning a removable bed beam of the type described above so that the holes therein are in proper allignment with the needles.

The object of the invention is achieved by providing means for accurately guiding the bed beam into proper allignment with the needles which also allows the-bed beam to be removed from the frame of the machine. The means for guiding the bed beam comprise a first guide means which prevents horizontal movement of one end of the bed beam in a direction which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the bed beam and second guide means which prevents horizontal movement of the opposite end of the bed beam in any direction. The first and second guide means guide the bed beam vertically between an upper needling position and a lower position. The first guide means is fixed to the machine frame at the end opposite that of the opening through which the beam passes for removal from the frame and does not restrict horizontal movement of the bed beam along its longitudinal axis toward the opening. The second guide means is convertible to two positions, an active position for guiding the bed beam when it is moved vertically and an inactive positon which allows the bed beam to be moved horizontally along its longitudinal axis through the opening in the frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a front elevation of the needle punching machine illustrating the preferred embodyment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view looking in the direction of arrow 2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view looking in the direction of arrow 3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 44 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of a clamping mechanism associated with the second guide means;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view, with portions in section, I

of part of the second position;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the second guide means in its inactive position;

FIG. 8 is a horizontal section taken online 8-8 of FIG. 6 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 9 is a horizontal section taken on line 9--9 of FIG. 7 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

guide means when it is in active FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a modification of the first guide means with portions in section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a needle punching machine to which the present invention is applied is indicated generally by the reference numeral 14 and comprises a frame including a top framework 16 and two end members 18 and 20 which have openings 22 and 24, respectively.

A needle beam 26 is supported by rods 28 which are vertically reciprocated by drive means, not shown, enclosed within top framework 16. Needle beam 26 may be driven in any manner well-known in the art. Needles 30 are secured to the bottom of the needle beam, only a few of which are shown.

A bed beam 32 is supported within frame 16 by elevating jacks 34 which are capable of'raising the bed beam from a lowered position shown in full lines in FIG. 1 to a needling position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1 and for lowering the bed beam back to the full line position. Jacks 34 each comprise a rod 31 threaded into a worm gear 33. Both of .the worm gears 33 are turned by worms 35 fixed to a shaft 36 driven by a motor 37. Each rod 31 has a key 38 by which it is vertically slidable in a slot 39 in the frame. Rod 31 will be prevented from turning with the worm gear 33 by the key 38 and will instead be moved vertically when the worm gear 33 is rotated. Hydraulical jacks could also be utilized for raising and lowering the bed beam if desired. Bed beam 32 includes a flat bed plate 40 which has holes 41 for receiving needles 30 when bed beam 32 is in its raised or needling position. One end of bed beam is indicated at 29 and the opposite end thereof is indicated at 42.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a web 43 is supported on bed plate 40 and a feed table 44 which is pivotally supported at 45 to the front side of bed beam 32. Web 43 extends downwardly around guide rollers 46 from bed plate 40 and then forwardly under the bed beam and through feed rollers 47 and 48 to a well 49 which is used to accomodate webs of substantial length. The

web extends from well 49 back to the feed table 44 so that the bed beam is completely encircled by the web. When the bed beam is raised to the upper or needling position, web 43 is engaged by the needles 30. The web 43 is advanced in a circuitous path around the bed beam in the direction of arrow until the whole length thereof has passed between the needle beam 26 and bed beam 32 for needling.

To insure proper alignment of holes 41 with needles 30, the bed beam 32 is guided vertically by first and second guide means 56 and 58, respectively.

First guide means 56 comprises a vertical post 60, preferably rectangular to square in cross section, rigidly mounted to the frame. End 29 of the bed beam has a U-shaped portion 62 which stradles post 60, see FIG. 4. Bed beam 32 is free to move along its longitudinal axis 61 relative to post but is prevented by post 60 from moving forwardly or rearwardly in a direction transverse to its longitudinal axis. The inside surfaces of U-shaped portion 62 has bearing pads 64 attached thereto for bearing against post 60. Second guide means 58 comprises a vertical post 66 which is clamped to the frame by end clamps 68. Referring particularly to FIG. 4, one of the clamps 68 is shown in greater detail. Each of the clamps 68 has a pair of plates 70 which are fastened to end member 20. A pressure bar 72 is pivotally mounted between plates 70. A pair of toggle levers 74 and 76 are pivotally connected at 78. Lever 74 is pivoted to the free end of pressure bar 72 and lever 76 is pivoted to both of the plates 70. One end of a link 80 is also pivoted at 78 between toggle levers 74 and 76 and theother end thereof is attached to a piston 82 slidable within an air cylinder 84. When bed beam 32 is in position within frame 16 post 66 rests snugly against semi-circular surfaces 86 of plates 70. Levers 74 and 76 form a toggle joint which forces pressure bar 72 against the post 66 when these levers are brought into alignment by the actuation of cylinder 84 which forces piston 82 out of the cylinder. The pressure of bar 72 against post 66 forces the post against surfaces 86, thereby clamping it firmly in its proper position.

Clamps'68are primarily for fixing post 66 against horizontal movement. Post 66 is fixed against vertical movement by an upper clamp 88, see also FIG. 5. Clamp 88 comprises a pair of plates 90 which are fixed to the frame. A bell crank lever 91 having arms 92 and 93 is pivoted at'94 at a point intermediate these arms between plates 90. Arm 93 is pivotally connected to one end of a link 96. The opposite end of link 96 is pivotally connected to a stud 98 which is threaded into a compression nut 100. Arm 92 is pivotally connected to a link 102 which is fixed to a piston 104 slidable within an air cylinder 106. Actuation of cylinder 106 which forces piston 104 out of the cylinder rocks bell crank lever 91 clockwise as viewed in FIG. 5. This action brings arm 93 and link 96 into end to end alignment to function as a toggle joint for forcing nut into engagement with post 66. As shown in FIG. 6, the bottom of post 66 rests on a pad 108 which is supported on the frame. When clamp 88 is in the clamping position as shown in FIG. 5, nut 100 forces post 66 down against pad 108 for maintaining the post rigid against vertical displacement.

End 42 of the bed beam is mounted for vertical sliding on post 66 by means of annular bearings 110 which are fixed to the bed beam and slidable on post 66. Vertical posts 60 and 66 thereby enable the bed beam to be raised and lowered by the jacks 34 and be maintained in proper alignment with the needle beam so that needles 30 will be in register with corresponding holes 41 when bed beam 32 is in the raised or needling position.

After the web 43 is completely needled, the bed beam 32 is lowered by the jacks 34 to the position shown in FIGS. l-3 wherein it is supported on roller bearings 52 and 54 located Within the lower portions of openings 22 and 24, respectively. The jacks 34 are lowered an additional amount to be clear of the bed beam.

Prior to removal of the bed beam 32 from the frame, cylinders 84 and 106 are actuated to retract pistons 82 and 104, respectively. This shifts the toggle joints of clamps 68 and 88 to their dotted line positions as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, thereby releasing post 66 from the frame 16.

After clamps 68 and 88 are released, bed beam 32 is in condition for removal toward the right through opening 24 as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 6. Additional bearings are located outside of the frame 16 for supporting the bed beam when it is removed from the frame. The bearings for supporting the bed beam may be as disclosed in my co-pending application, Ser. No. 327,524, filed Jan. 29, 1973 entitled Needle Punching Machine for Endless Webs or as disclosed in previously described US. application Ser. No. 127,976, now US. Pat. No. 3,727,277, granted Apr. 17, 1973. As disclosed in both of these applications, the bed beam is removed from the frame sufficiently to be clear of the web, after which the web is folded and removed from the frame. A new web to be needied is then inserted within the frame and the bed beam is moved back into the frame within the new web.

When the bed beam 32 is first moved to the right as viewed in FIG. 6, post 66 moves with it. The bottom of the post 66 slides over the top of pad 108 and is supported by a latching mechanism generally indicated at 112, see particularly FIGS. 8 and 9. Latching mechanism 112 comprises a bracket 114 fixed to the underside of bed beam 32 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. A latch 116 comprises a tail portion 118 slidably mounted in a slot 120 in bracket 114 and a head portion 122 which extends outside of bracket 114. Compression springs 124 are anchored in bracket 114 for urging head portion 122 away from the bracket. Head portion 122 has an outer concave surface 126 which has the same radius as the outer surface 127 of post 66. When the bed beam 32 is fully positioned in the frame 16, latch 116 is in the retracted position shown in FIG. 8 so that the surface 126 of head portion 122 bears against the outer surface 127 of post 66 and slides along this surface as the bed beam is moved vertically toward and away from the needling position. Pad 108 has a surface 128 which is concentric with the surface 127 of post 66. As the bed beam 32 is lowered to the position shown in FIG. 6, surface 126 slides from the outer surface of post 66 to surface 128 of pad 108. This locates head 122 of latch 116 below the bottom surface 130 of post 66. As the bed beam is moved to the right as viewed in FIG. 8, surface 126 will be maintained against surface 128 of the pad 108 by springs 124 and bracket 114 will move away from the pad. Since post 66 also moved with the bed beam, it will pass over the fully extended head 122 and be vertically supported thereby as shown in FIG. 9. The bed beam can be removed from the frame carrying post 66 with it.

When the bed beam is moved back into the frame 16, surface 126 will strike surface 128 of the pad 108. Latch 116 will be arrested while bracket 114, bed beam 32 and post 66 continue to move. Post 66 will slide from head 122 to pad 108 as shown in FIG. 8. When the bed beam 32 is raised, surface 126 will ride upwardly from surface 128 of the pad 108 to surface 127 of the post 66.

During needling, there is a tendency for the beam to be deflected by the downward stroke of the needle beam and then spring back during the upward stroke of the needle beam. The action of needling could therefore cause the bed beam to bounce on jacks 34. This bouncing is prevented by employing jacks 132 as shown in FIG. 1. Jacks 132 are operated to push down on the bed beam in opposition to jacks 34 when the bed beam is raised to its upper dotted line position. In this way, the bed beam is firmly clamped against vertical motion. Jacks 132 may be similar to jacks 34 or oper ated by hydraulic cylinders 134 as shown in FIG. 1.

Although the above apparatus for carrying the post 66 with the bed beam as it is removed is preferred, it is also contemplated that the post 66 could be removed from the frame and bed beam before removal of the bed beam from the frame.

Referring to FIG. 10, there is shown a modification of the first guide means generally indicated at 56'. In this embodyment, the end 29 of the bed beam, indicated at 32, is modified to include a generally rectangular projection 132. First guide means 56' includes a bracket 134 fixed to frame 16 and containing a vertical slot 136. When the bed beam 32 is properly positioned within frame 16, projection 132 is located within slot 136 in sliding engagement with bearing pads 138 which line the inner walls of slot 136. When the bed beam is moved vertically within the frame 16, projection 132 will slide vertically within slot 136 and be guided thereby against horizontal displacement in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis 61 of the bed beam 32. Slot 136 will also allow the bed beam 32 to be moved to the right as viewed in FIG. for removal from the frame 16.

I claim:

1. In a needle punching machine for needling endless webs comprising:

a. a needle beam having a plurality of needles attached thereto;

b. a bed beam for supporting a web;

c. a frame for supporting said needle beam and including an end member having an opening large enough for said bed beam to pass through;

d. means for raising said bed beam to an upper needling position and for lowering said bed beam to a lower position for removal from said frame;

e. bearing means for supporting said bed beam in its lowered position;

f. first guide means mounted on said frame at the end opposite said opening for preventing movement of one end of said bed beam in a transverse direction to the longitudinal axis of said bed beam while guiding said bed beam for vertical motion between said upper and lower positions; and

g. second guide means convertible to two positions,

an active position for preventing horizontal movement of the opposite end of saidbed beam while guiding said bed beam for vertical movement between said upper and lower positions, and an inactive position for allowing said bed beam to be moved horizontally along its longitudinal axis, whereby said bed beam is free to be removed from said frame and clear of said web.

2. The needle punching machine as described in claim 1 wherein said first guide means comprises a first vertical guide post and said bed beam comprises a U shaped portion at said one end for slidingly engaging said first vertical post when said bed beam is positioned for vertical movement within said frame.

3. The needle punching machine as described in claim 1 wherein said first guide means comprises a post having a vertically extending slot and said bed beam comprises a vertical projection at said one end for sliding engagement within said slot when said bed beam is positioned for vertical movement within said frame.

4. The needle punching machine as described in claim 1 wherein second guide means comprises:

a. a second vertical guide post which extends through said bed beam for vertical sliding motion therein; and

b. means for clamping said second guide post to said frame.

5. The needle punching machine as described in claim 4 comprising means for supporting said second vertical guide post in said bed beamwhen said bed beam is moved out of said frame.

6. The needle punching machine as described in claim 5 wherein said supporting means comprises a holding finger which supports said second guide post when said bed beam is moved out of said frame and is retractable to a non-supporting position when said bed beam is located within said frame in vertical alignment with its needling position,.thereby allowing said bed beam to be moved vertically relative to said second guide post.

7. The needle punching machine as described in claim 4 comprising:

a. a support pad for supporting the bottom of said second guide post when said guide post is clamped to said frame and having an outer vertical surface located in the same vertical plane as the outer surface of said second guide post when said guide post is clamped to said frame;

b. a retaining latch, forming part of said supporting means, slidably mounted on said bed beam for movement toward and away from the outer vertical surfaces of said second guide post and support pad and which is horizontally aligned with said support pad when said bed beam is in its lower position; and.

c. resilient means for urging said retaining latch toward second guide post, wherein said latch will be urged under said second guide post for supporting said guide post when said bed beam is moved horizontally along its longitudinal axis from said lower position toward the opening in said end member and forced out of supporting position by said support pad when said bed beam is moved horizontally to said lower position within said frame.

8. The needle punching machine as described in claim 4 comprising:

aa support pad for supporting the bottom of said second guide post; and

3,813,741 7 8 b. a top clamp, forming part of said clamping means, 10. The needle pu nchin g machine as desc ibed in for exerting a downward Pressure said Second ciaim 9ivherein said bed beam clamping means comver tical guide post. k f d d 9. The needle p g machine described in prises ac s or exerting a ownwar force on said bed claim 1 comprising means for clamping said bed beam beam mtopposmon a rammg and means against vertical motion when it is in its upper active powhen 531d bed beam m upper acme posmon' sition. 

1. In a needle punching machine for needling endless webs comprising: a. a needle beam having a plurality of needles attached thereto; b. a bed beam for supporting a web; c. a frame for supporting said needle beam and including an end member having an opening large enough for said bed beam to pass through; d. means for raising said bed beam to an upper needling position and for lowering said bed beam to a lower position for removal from said frame; e. bearing means for supporting said bed beam in its lowered position; f. first guide means mounted on said frame at the end opposite said opening for preventing movement of one end of said bed beam in a transverse direction to the longitudinal axis of said bed beam while guiding said bed beam for vertical motion between said upper and lower positions; and g. second guide means convertible to two positions, an active position for preventing horizontal movement of the opposite end of said bed beam while guiding said bed beam for vertical movement between said upper and lower positions, and an inactive position for allowing said bed beam to be moved horizontally along its longitudinal axis, whereby said bed beam is free to be removed from said frame and clear of said web.
 2. The needle punching machine as described in claim 1 wherein said first guide means comprises a first vertical guide post and said bed beam comprises a U shaped portion at said one end for slidingly engaging said first vertical post when said bed beam is positioned for vertical movement within said frame.
 3. The needle punching machine as described in claim 1 wherein said first guide means comprises a post having a vertically extending slot and said bed beam comprises a vertical projection at said one end for sliding engagement within said slot when said bed beam is positioned for vertical movement within said frame.
 4. The needle punching machine as described in claim 1 wherein second guide means comprises: a. a second vertical guide post which extends through said bed beam for vertical sliding motion therein; and b. means for clamping said second guide post to said frame.
 5. The needle punching machine as described in claim 4 comprising means for supporting said second vertical guide post in said bed beam when said bed beam is moved out of said frame.
 6. The needle punching machine as described in claim 5 wherein said supporting means comprises a holding finger which supports said second guide post when said bed beam is moved out of said frame and is retractable to a non-supporting position when said bed beam is located within said frame in vertical alignment with its needling position, thereby allowing said bed beam to be moved vertically relative to said second guide post.
 7. The needle punching machine as described in claim 4 comprising: a. a support pad for supporting the bottom of said second guide post when said guide post is clamped to said frame and having an outer vertical surface located in the same vertical plane as the outer surface of said second guide post when said guide post is clamped to said frame; b. a retaining latch, forming part of said supporting means, slidably mounted on said bed beam for movement toward and away from the outer vertical surfaces of said second guide post and support pad and which is horizontAlly aligned with said support pad when said bed beam is in its lower position; and c. resilient means for urging said retaining latch toward second guide post, wherein said latch will be urged under said second guide post for supporting said guide post when said bed beam is moved horizontally along its longitudinal axis from said lower position toward the opening in said end member and forced out of supporting position by said support pad when said bed beam is moved horizontally to said lower position within said frame.
 8. The needle punching machine as described in claim 4 comprising: a a support pad for supporting the bottom of said second guide post; and b. a top clamp, forming part of said clamping means, for exerting a downward pressure on said second vertical guide post.
 9. The needle punching machine as described in claim 1 comprising means for clamping said bed beam against vertical motion when it is in its upper active position.
 10. Th needle punching machine as described in claim 9 wherein said bed beam clamping means comprises jacks for exerting a downward force on said bed beam in opposition to said raising and lowering means when said bed beam is in its upper active position. 